Session Descriptions

For many years there has been an ongoing debate in our community as to whether or not it’s necessary—or even appropriate—for love to be a part of a Master/slave relationship. This debate continues because, even though our lives are spent continually searching for love, our understanding of what love is has been so culturally diminished that today mere romance and sentimentalism pass for love and that type of “love” undermines a D/s dynamic. Paradoxically, when the Master’s and slave’s inner journey results in the transmutation of the D/s dynamic, their search for love at long last ends and their relationship is strengthened. In this exceptionally personal presentation Master Skip and slave Rick will open an intimate window into the dynamics of their own relationship and reveal how, when a Master and slave are willing to venture beyond the illusory boundaries of identity and ego, love is discovered to be not a feeling but the very essence of one’s true nature.

REFINING FIREThe Role of SM in Master/slave Relationships

While engaging in SM is not a prerequisite for a Master/slave relationship, the judicious incorporation of SM into the relationship can be a powerful tool for the growth of both the slave and the Master alike. However, contrary to the stereotype SM need not—and in most cases should not—be used as a form of punishment. What, then, must be a Master’s primary intention for using SM in this context? Which SM practices have the greatest potential for deepening a slave’s submission and obedience? How does “safe, sane and consensual” factor into the equation? Join Master Skip as he examines the many opportunities and challenges that arise when, in consensual Mastery and slavery, SM shifts from being a radical sexual practice to a legitimate developmental practice.

SHADOW TANGO:
The Soul Dance of Master and slave

A Master/slave relationship is a dance of souls, each drawing the other into a ferocious embrace that facilitates healing, growth and ultimately egoic surrender in both the Master and the slave.

In this interactive presentation you are invited to dialogue with slave Rick as he shares some thought provoking realizations derived from his 12+ year relationship with his Master, and from his experiences as a practicing psychotherapist within the BDSM community (www.KinkTherapistLosAngeles.com) that will assist you in recognizing the enticing rhythms of your own particular D/s dance.

THE SERVANT MASTERFrom Control to Compassion

The archetype of the Servant Master is found in every major spiritual tradition, from the shamanic Native American medicine man who acts as the conduit between the tribe and the spirits of its ancestors, to Buddhist bodhisattvas who postpone their entrance into Nirvana in order to facilitate the enlightenment of others, to Jesus’ Last Supper revelation that, “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave to all.” This profound and paradoxical teaching provokes a challenging question to those who claim the dominant role in a D/s relationship: “How am I called to be of service to those who serve me?” Join Master Skip as he shares his insights into what it means to be a Servant Master and the alchemy that transforms dominance and submission into devotion and surrender.

(This presentation, which is appropriate for both Dominants and submissives, will conclude with the audience participating in a moving, sacred ritual. A short break will be taken prior to the ritual to allow those who do not wish to participate to take their leave. Once the door to the meeting room has been closed, no one will be permitted to enter until the ritual has concluded.)

TRANSPARENT D/sFrom Projection to Reflection

Because, as the Talmud teaches, “We don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are,” relationships of all types are often rife with projection. If such projection goes unrecognized and unaddressed, then alienation, isolation and, ultimately, dissolution of the relationship is the result. In the case of an D/s relationship, the submissive projects his or her ideas, feelings and attitudes regarding authority figures onto the Dominant, and if that projection includes anger, fear, blame or guilt, the toll it takes on both the relationship and the Dominant’s self-esteem can be tremendous. In this enlightening presentation Master Skip will explore the underlying psycho-spiritual dynamics that make it possible for a Dominant to stand in the middle of a submissive’s projection without moving, neither accepting the projection nor rejecting it and, in doing so, facilitate the submissive’s awareness of the projection, the Dominant’s strengthened sense of competency and the realization of the true nature of the relationship for them both.

THE ABSENTEE MASTERWhat to Do When Life Gets in the Way of Your D/s Relationship

In fantasy, the Master is all-powerful, in control of every situation and always on top of things, particularly when it comes to the slave. But life happens, and the reality is that Masters are human and can find themselves distracted, despondent and even depressed when facing such major life challenges as serious illness, the death of a loved one or the loss of a job. During these times it may be all but impossible for the Master to provide the level of dominance and control to which the slave is accustomed and, as a result, the slave may find it equally difficult to refrain from complaining and to not feel resentful when they perceive that their needs are going unmet.

But it needn’t be such a dire state of affairs! Join slave Rick, a practicing psychotherapist within the BDSM community (www.KinkTherapistLosAngeles.com), as he shares, with his Master’s support and encouragement, the insights he has gleaned from a similar set of circumstances in their own M/s relationship. Allow the wisdom born of his experience to better prepare you for navigating these rough waters yourself. Most importantly, discover how such trials and tribulations can be an opportunity for the slave to step up and provide a level of service to the Master that goes far beyond doing the laundry.

FINISHING TOUCHESWhat To Do When Your M/s Relationship Is Not Enough

When it comes to relationships, each of us has specific physical, emotional and spiritual needs. It’s widely understood that someone in a more conventional relationship will likely be incapable of meeting the totality of their partner’s needs, and one can only guess as to how much more that applies to those who engage in esoteric relationships rooted in consensual dominance and submission. What do you do if your Master/slave relationship doesn’t satisfy all of your needs? How can adjustments and accommodations be made without damaging the relationship or threatening the individuals who comprise it? Who initiates the changes, and who does the adjusting and accommodating? In what promises to be a highly charged discussion, Master Skip and slave Rick will candidly share examples from their own 12-year relationship as they examine this sensitive subject. Come discover how acknowledging what’s missing in your life need not pose a threat to your M/s relationship, and why restructuring the relationship so that your needs or the needs of your Master or slave can be fully or better met has the potential to strengthen the D/s dynamic between you.

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WHAT’S GOING ON HERE?

NubianImp Projects strives to: provide forums for advanced education and celebration (to strengthen the bonds within community, tribes and chosen-family) through sex-positive event production aimed at queers and their allies.